Volunteer to help your community
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart.”
-Elizabeth Andrew
I hope everyone had a good summer. It seems like it sure passed quickly. Now fall is coming, and with it, this year, a City Council election. Two council positions will be up for election, and we have four candidates. I encourage you to research each candidate’s experience, community involvement and knowledge about community issues.
Speaking of community involvement, the joy of giving back to your community has many rewards, including maintaining and improving your community, making new friends and helping those less fortunate.
Volunteering to serve on our City Council, Planning Commission or Trails and Landscape Committee are opportunities to serve your city in an official capacity, with corresponding duties explained in my previous Mayor’s Columns, but there are many more volunteer opportunities that benefit your community. These include the following groups and organizations:
Probably the largest and most visible local group that raises funds to benefit the Clayton community is the Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA). They are a local philanthropic 501 (c) (3) organization of Clayton Valley residents, business entities and others who wish to serve the Clayton community. All proceeds the CBCA earns from its community events are reinvested in our community, infusing monies into local charities, schools, scholarships and special projects, all “for the good of the Clayton community” (which is the club’s motto and driving motivation).
This club and its volunteers manage not only the upcoming Clayton Oktoberfest (scheduled for Oct 6-7 this year) but they also put on the Art & Wine Festival, the Clayton BBQ Cook Off, the downtown Christmas decorations, Dessert with Mrs. Claus and the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony.
CBCA is a major sponsor of the popular Concerts in The Grove summer concert series held in our downtown park and it partnered with the City to improve Daffodil Hill, located at the entrance to Clayton at Clayton Road and Marsh Creek Road, to promote our downtown business area.
The club also united with the Ipsen family to build the Ipsen Family Bocce Park, which creates a favorable first impression of Clayton’s downtown area as one exits Clayton Road using the Oak Street ramp. CBCA further manages the Clayton Bocce League, which uses the Ipsen Family Bocce Park for three league seasons, bringing over 1,800 bocce players and friends into Clayton’s downtown area on weekday evenings. The club has almost 200 members, including all of the current City Council members and most of its Planning Commissioners.
The Clayton Historical Society and Museum is dedicated to preserving Clayton’s history by maintaining the Clayton Museum and sponsoring historical exhibits.
The Clayton Community Library Foundation raises funds, via two popular Used Book Sales, to purchase new materials for the library and also provides volunteer staff and improvements for the library. It recently donated monies to the City to assist in offsetting some of the City’s expense to keep the library open on Sunday afternoons.
The Clayton Valley Garden Club raises funds and provides volunteer services for garden projects at local schools and information about local native plants.
The Clayton Valley Sunrise Rotary Club holds the annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast and other activities to raise funds for many charitable causes.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Lt. Jerry Novakovich Post 1525 provides financial and volunteer support for local, state and national veteran organizations whose activities benefit America’s veterans, their orphans and their families. They constructed the Veterans Memorial Flag Pole Monument in downtown Clayton and recently packaged and shipped 417 care packages to service men and women on active duty overseas.
The Clayton Valley Woman’s Club raises funds for charitable and community service projects.
The Clayton Branch of the AAUW raises funds for charitable and educational projects, such as the Annual Tech Trek Science Camp and Scholarship Program.
These local clubs and organizations illustrate the generous, charitable nature of our Clayton Valley area residents and why it’s such a vibrant, comfortable place to live and raise our families. Please check with their websites if you want more information about these helpful clubs and organizations.
Lastly, I encourage you to take advantage of Clayton’s excellent trail system as the fall weather inspires us to get outside and enjoy our beautiful setting at the foot of Mt Diablo.
I hope you have a good month. I look forward to sharing more information about Clayton items and activities with you in upcoming issues. Feel free to send comments to me at
khaydon@ci.clayton.ca.us